Reds stars Quade Cooper and Will Genia plot to put bite on Sharks

STAR Queensland duo Quade Cooper and Will Genia do not dwell on revenge but are scheming to help the Reds prove they are a better side than the one dumped from last season's Super Rugby finals by South Africa's Sharks.

Their opportunity looms on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium against one of the few teams to have eluded the Reds in recent years.

Early last season, Queensland held a 17-0 lead against the Sharks before being run down 27-22.

Then in July, the Reds seemed set to progress to the playoffs but were bamboozled by the visitors. Their shock 30-17 loss exemplified their difficult title defence, with stand-in flyhalf Ben Lucas's ankle injury compounding the absence of suspended playmaker Cooper.

There is an undercurrent of purpose against the side Queensland has not beaten in the Ewen McKenzie era.

"The most disappointing thing was putting ourselves in a seat to go further and we just didn't play as well as we would have liked," said Genia, who was shifted to flyhalf after Lucas departed in the first half.

Cooper was the code's most talented waterboy that night, close to his teammates but unable to influence the game.

"To sit in the stands in a playoff game is a disappointing feeling when you feel you could be contributing," he said.

"It's in the past and we can't do much about that. What we can do is rectify the result.

"I don't feel I owe the team something (but) every week you put on the jersey you feel you owe the jumper something."

The Reds have accomplished some stirring wins against New Zealand opponents this season but their poor record against the Sharks grates on Cooper.

"That statistic is very disappointing for us," he said.

"We've managed to tick off a few little challenges and this is the next one on the list."

Later this month coach Robbie Deans will announce his Wallabies squad to face the British and Irish Lions.

James O'Connor and Christian Lealiifano have been mentioned as leading contenders to play flyhalf but Genia reaffirmed his endorsement of Cooper.

"I love playing with Quade. I don't feel as comfortable (with anyone else) as I do with him," Genia said.